If you concern yourself with backing away from or avoiding repeated mistakes, you are not likely to find yourself “backing –up” into achievement or success. It has been traditional to believe that the avoidance of mistakes will result in progress.

About a month ago, we were in a meeting with three village Mayors (male Chiefs) to discuss the implementation of the first carbon offsetting project for Samoa by replanting more than 12,000 native trees in the O le Pupu Pue national Park.

Talofa Samoa!
I see them all the time when I go for my daily brisk walk along the Seawall behind the Government Building near the Apia Harbour: heavy-set people straining to lose weight by exercising in all kind of ways.

Today marks the second year since the Government approved the National Voters Day as part of the Office of the Electoral Commissioner’ national drive, to raise public awareness on the rights, duties and obligations of our citizens as voters under our Constitution and electoral laws.

Today, on 8 March, we celebrate International Women’s Day.
It is a day to celebrate the achievements and successes of women around the globe. It also an opportunity to reflect on the challenges faced by women in our society and to consider how we can address these challenges.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Talofa lava! As an Indigenous Samoan, Let me first pay my respect to the Indigenous Owners of this land and thank their ancestors, past present and future, for letting me stand before you on these sacred cultural lands!

“Whilst providing affordable wholesale internet through the Tui-Samoa is important, extending access must go hand in hand with increasing digital literacy for women and men, girls and boys as well as those Samoans with disabilities” – P.M. Tuilaepa Dr. Sa’ilele Malielegaoi

To’osavili John Key got it wrong. Had he campaigned to change the name of the country instead of the flag, he may have had a better Cause and chance at succeeding. After all, change the name of the country and a new flag is a certainty.

By 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish and according to researchers, by then I will be completely submerged underwater. Tackling the plastic problem and pollution in the ocean will help reduce the carbon pollution and global warming.

Do you feel the earth would be kinder if Adam was Eve instead? When I look at the children of the streets, I feel sorrow only. There is not a bone in a loving mother which does not ache for the grief upon any child. I miss my own mother like I miss the rain.

Last week, the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture (M.E.S.C.) terminated the services of four employees. From what we’ve been told, the former employees allegedly helped themselves to $15,000 of the Ministry’s petty cash money

Dear Editor,
Re: Media Council beats drum on its work
Speaking truth to power is an essential aspect of Democracy. Understand that the H.R.P.P. government has zero transparency, zero accountability and poor governance. The O.P.C. Reports and the public audits of government borrowing and spending are withheld from the public.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is standing by her country’s immigration laws requiring Samoans to go through a stringent screening process to obtain a visa to visit New Zealand. This is despite the two countries sharing a Treaty of Friendship. Do you think this is fair? Reporter, Nefertiti Matatia, asked the public in today’s Street Talk and this is what they said:

Think a minute…John is smart and well educated, but he does not keep a job and support his family. Ian is married with children, but he continues to go out nights partying and being unfaithful to his wife. Sadly, fewer boys than ever are becoming true men who live up to their adult responsibilities.

THE BEST
A big fa’amalo to the skilled and courageous E.P.C. staff who braved the winds and rain to restore power from broken and dangerous power lines on Cross Island Road on Wednesday night in pitch darkness.

Samoa’s Ava Exports is looking promising, with exports expected to increase in the next couple of years. Ava exports was Samoa’s second largest export commidity from 1998 to 2001 until some European countries led by Germany imposed restrictions on the Pacific Kava Trade. Samoa’s exports of Ava in 1998 was just under $20m.